Wives Of Returned Men

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1943, Page 2

Wives Of Returned Men

(I*.A.i WELLINGTON. This Day. On inquiring from iho Cont roller lot Manpower the practice followed by hi: tli pannn*iil in the case or fiancees or wives of returned servicemen who had been diiveied to employment in essential industries. tin. N.Z.K.S.A. siaied that it was its view tliat wlien men returned, their wives should be permitted to terminate iheir employment in order to look alter their homes, and that reasonable leave facilities should bo accorded b fiancees desiring to marry. The Controller for Manpower replied. “In view of the present needs in essential industries, and of acute shortage oi female labour, it has been necesasry foi the department to adopt a policy of cltr(cling married women without children to work of national importance, and in the circumstances it is not possible to release single women from essential industries merely on the ground that tin > desire to be married. The policy in such, eases is to grant reasonable leave of absence and, only in exceptional cases, is permission to terminate granted. Under no circumstances, however, are married w-.-men. maintaining homes, and/or living with their husbands, directed to work away from their home cent res or to work involving excess overtime, ahd every care is exercised to ensure that direction oi: married women to employment will not result in undue hardship or inconvenience. Consideration For N.Z.E.F. “Each case is, of course, dealt with on its merits and, in keeping with the general policy adopted with respect to returned servicemen, who are allowed freedom of choice as to employment, your association may rest assured that applications by fiancees of ex-servicemen desiring to terminate employment in essential industries in order to be married, will be given sympathetic consideration, particularly if the ex-serviceman is suffering uotn any disability as a result of war Service. “District manpower officers were instructed to extend every consideration to wives, near relatives and fiancees of m. o who had recently returned from 'he Middle East on furlough, and in any ease where an employer refused to grant reasonable leave, permission to terminate was to be given.” Funds For Holidays Abroad It was reported to the association 1 hat once a serviceman had drawn the £3O laid down bv the regulations, he was unable to draw further on funds in New Zealand. even if proceeding on furlough. The association had been advised by Base Records that this report was without foundation, and that special arrangements had been made for men going on furlough to tiie United Kingdom and Australia. An immediate remiitancc may be made to the extent of CSG on application to the paymaster in those countries. These extra remittances are not affected by Ihe ,£2O quota, and the £SO may be exceeded in special circumstances. Headquarters ol the New Zealand IBS.A. have been advised that the number of house properties acquired by ex-scrvic-men of tiie present war, with rehabilitation finance, has now exceeded 30'.). Over 100 farm properties have also been taken up. and all have been acquired through the State Advances Corporation undei freehold tenure.